How to Mow Rye Grass
Rye grass is a popular cool-season grass grown in many parts of the northern United States. There are two types of rye grass that gardeners can seed: perennial and annual. Perennial takes longer to establish but will sprout again after it goes dormant in the summer. Annual spreads quickly but will need to be replanted every year. Many gardeners employ improper cultural practices when mowing these grasses. Improper mowing will lead to poor root development and potentially dead grass. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Apply a fertilizer in the early fall to green up the rye grass. Use a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Spread the fertilizer over the lawn with a fertilizer spreader. Water the lawn to activate the fertilizer.
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Allow the rye grass to grow to at least 2 inches in height. Set your mower's blades to a level that takes off 1/3 of each grass blade. Taking off more of the blade will result in a weak root system.
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Pick a dry day to mow your lawn. Walk back and forth across the lawn with the mower, following an imaginary line. Allow the grass clippings to lay on the lawn, because they decompose into rich nutrients for the soil.
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Mow your rye grass once a week until its growth begins to slow down when spring temperatures heat up.
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Set the mower blade to its lowest level when the rye grass begins to die back at the end of the season. Mow the lawn on this lowest setting to make way for your summer turf.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your rye grass watered during the fall, winter and spring with 1 inch of water per week.
Avoid fertilizing your summer turf before it has time to green up, or you will encourage weed growth.
